Baguio’s P381Million Youth Convergence and Indoor Sports Complex Project start

February 13, 2022 Metro BLISTT

The city starts the construction of the P381 million Baguio Youth Convergence and Sports Complex after Baguio Rep. Marques Go and mayor Benjamin Magalong led the city officials in the groundbreaking ceremony at the Baguio athletic complex Wednesday.
Called a present to the youth and athletes, City Buildings and Architecture Office head Archt. Johnny Degay opened the short groundbreaking rites in front of the Baguio swimming pool for the biggest sports project the city has ever undertaken. Degay clearly alluded to Sangguniang Kabataan chair and councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales, who was seated beside vice mayor Faustino Olowan during the opening rites with M.E. Sicat Construction engineers led by owner Mike E. Sicat and Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio Engineering District Engineering Office employees as a witness.
“We just do hope that what we see now is what we will get once construction is finished,” a seemingly still peeved Magalong told the contractor, some six hours after inspection of the nearby grandstand extension project undertaken by the DPWH – BED with Vision 3000.
“This came from the taxes of the Baguio people and we just do hope that it would be close to what we see now,” added Magalong as he gazed at the tarpaulin hanging at the swimming pool walls showing the 5-story building.
Magalong was not happy with the almost finished PhP47 million grandstand project which he said in wanting in creativity. Four flood light towers have been finished placed around the oval with the lightings to be installed soon.
Sicat said that they will do their best to give Baguio what it wants for a sports complex. He added that they were responsible of putting up the PHP280 million Philippine Sports Commission sports complex within the Rizal Memorial Complex which was used for the gymnastics competitions during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The construction firm recently completed the 4-storey San Mateo College and Sports Stadium, a municipal college in San Mateo Rizal.
Orcales profusely thanked the city officials for making the dream a reality, which Magalong later said that it should be the people of Baguio he should be thanking.
“It is a dream finally realized. We worked and lobbied with the city officials since 2018 during the last administration. And I lobbied still with the new leadership of mayor Magalong when he assumed office in 2019. And I am really thankful to the city council led by vice mayor Olowan for helping us out.
This is for our youth and for our athletes,” added Orcales, who is gunning for a regular seat in the city council this May elections.
“Everything is aligning. We now have the sports code and now we look forward to having a sports complex that we can proud off and make tangible that Baguio is really the center for sports in the Cordillera or even in the north,” added Orcales, who expects to step down in December this year with the barangay and SK election.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Pena, an engineer, said the building, which will be made in 620 days, will have a parking space for 55 vehicles and 40 motorcycles/bicycles; It will also have the youth convergence center with multi purpose hall, trade hall, IT research center, youth sports museum, youth development center, conference room, and offices.
Other amenities include an 8-lane 10 pin bowling alley; contact sports facility; billiards facility; darts facility; open garden and offices; boxing ring facility; wushu and taekwondo facility; kick boxing training area; and, a FIBA Regulation basketball court.
Aside from these, the building will have locker rooms; gym area for free weights, stationary bikes, treadmill, weight lifting bench; dance hall; yoga and calisthenics area; massage and therapy room as well as a cafeteria.
The building will also have a sports museum. Orcales, who reaches the age limit of 26 for SK leaders this year, said that the City Sports and Promotions Office will later draft guidelines for the use of the sports complex and make it economically viable for it to operate on its own.
Pigeon Lobien/ABN